WASHINGTON, D.C., April 30, 2009—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (the Big “I”) today awarded Alex Soto with the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the association bestows on one of its members.
“Throughout his more than 35 years in the industry, Alex Soto has been an advocate for independent agents on Capitol Hill, in the media, in the White House and many other venues,” said Brett Nilsson, Big “I” chairman.
The Woodworth Memorial Award recognizes the meritorious and outstanding contributions of an independent agent or broker to the national association to his or her Big “I” colleagues, and to the insurance industry.
Soto is president and CEO of InSource, Inc. in Miami and served as chairman of the Big “I” from 2006 to 2007. Soto also served on the national association’s executive committee and was chairman of IIABA’s Communications Committee, Natural Disaster Committee and Branding Task Force, which was responsible for developing the Trusted Choice® consumer brand. Soto is still a member of the Trusted Choice® Board and “is hailed for his understanding of the power of a consumer brand and his relentless efforts to educate the industry on the necessity and importance of Trusted Choice®,” continued Nilsson.
Soto formerly served as chairman and state national director of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents and as vice chairman of the Florida Property Casualty Joint Underwriting Association (FPCJUA). He also was a member of the governor’s Commission on the Florida Insurance Crisis and served on the Florida Insurance Fraud Task Force. He represented agents at many hearings on Capitol Hill, at an economic summit with former President George W. Bush and at the Treasury Department’s National Roundtable on Insurance Literacy.
“During his tenure on the national [Big ‘I’] executive committee, Soto was praised as a motivator, a consensus builder and a true leader,” said Nilsson. “During his term as chairman, he led the charge on certificates of insurance, natural disaster reform and other important issues for agents. He also provided a steady voice in a difficult period of turmoil involving producer compensation when strong leadership was crucial.”
Soto is also active in his local community, serving as a trustee of the Archdiocese of Miami Trust and he is the immediate past president the Two Hundred Club of Greater Miami, Inc., which provides monetary assistance to the families of fallen police officers, firefighters and other law enforcement and emergency responders. He also served as chairman of the Miami-Dade Water Authority, chairman of the City of Coral Gables Cable Television Board and as a member of St. Hugh Catholic Church Parish Council.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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